Larva

The creatures most similar to the original Zerg insectoids are the Zerg Larvae. Each Larva contains within it the genetic makeup of every other Zerg strain available to the Hive. A young Hive will have only the genetic codes for the most basic of Zerg strains, such as the Drone, but as the Hive grows and develops new structures, the Larvae can expand its library of genetic strains. With a command from the Overlords, Larvae will enter a pupal state and begin the metamorphosis into whichever strains the Hive requires.

Combat

3D Model

Basic information

Production

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Combat

SPECIMEN ANALYSIS

SEGMENTED BODY

UNYIELDING SHELL

SHARED DNA

DERMIS

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Every segment of the Larva’s body contains all the required organs to ensure its survival in the direst situations. Such a trait, combined with near-instant wound clotting, allows Larvae to function and morph normally even if cut in half.

The need to survive has played a key role in the evolution of the Larva’s carapace. Its plates have turned into an incredibly dense material that is not easily scratched—much less punctured—even by non-conventional weaponry. We suspect this highly-resistant carapace served as a template for the enhancements to the heavily armored Ultralisk.

Larvae in young colonies only have access to a fraction of the DNA strains available to fully developed hives. As the cluster cycle progresses, living Larvae absorb new genetic data, while the freshly-spawned ones already have the additional blocks of the Swarm’s genome hard-coded in their DNA.

The inner layer of the creature’s skin is populated with receptor cells. Once an Overlord issues the morph command, the Larva’s organs are ejected—forming a hard egg-like cocoon—and its tissues are instantly reconfigured into the desired strain through a brief pupation period.

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General Strategy

Morphs into all available types of Zerg units.

Automatically spawned from a Hatchery (Lair and Hive) as well as being manually spawned by a Queen.